Rahul Dravid To Continue As India A and Under 19 Coach For Next Two Years
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:28 PM
Rahul Dravid will continue to coach the India A and Under-19 side for the next two years, confirmed by BCCI on Friday. He first took over the role in the year 2015 and was then retained after that.
Though after the end of his contract in the month of March earlier this year, questions were raised when he did not travel with the India Under-23 side for the emerging cup tournament and instead went on to joined the Delhi Daredevils camp. (Read Here: BCCI To Conduct Mini IPL In UAE)
Later, the former member of COA, Ramachandra Guha questioned BCCI for offering coaches a ten-month contract, which raised few concerns. Though, Dravid himself asked the board to clear the conflict of interest issue. Later, BCCI drew a line over coaches and confirmed that no coach associated with BCCI would be allowed to be associated with any of the IPL franchises. From then, the rumours revealed that Dravid had agreed to continue as a coach and only monetary part for the job was left to be discussed. (Read Here: CAC To Conduct Interview For Head Coach Job On July 10)
Dravid was first appointed as the coach of the side in the year 2015. India A went on to win the home tri-series under the captaincy of Unmukt Chand against Australia A and South Africa A. Dravid deserves a special credit for spotting a talent like Rishabh Pant, as the left-handed batsman did not perform well in the Under-19 Challenger Trophy which was played in 2015 to select the pool of players ahead of the Under-19 World Cup.
Though Rishabh did not perform well in that tournament, still, Dravid picked him on the side and within one year of Under-19 World Cup, Pant made his debut for the India in the T20I series against England. He was one of the five standbys for the Champions Trophy and made his way in the team for India tour of West Indies. Players like Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar – who spent their Under-19 days under Dravid have also done well, lately.
Though it is still unclear whether Dravid will travel with the Under-19 side to England for the series against the hosts or will he be there with the India A camp for the tri-series and two unofficial Test in South Africa? BCCI is yet to clear this issue which lies ahead of the board and Dravid as well.
(Read More: Ravi Shastri To Apply For Head Coach Job)
(Read More: India A Squad For South Africa Series Announced)